Hot Dog!

The origin of the hot dog, that perennial summer favorite, is a bit unclear. The “frankfurter” (from Frankfurt, Germany) has been around since the 13th century (Wikipedia). The term “wiener” comes from Vienna, but it was the same idea (with a little beef thrown into the pork mixture!) The origin of the term “hot dog” is likewise ambiguous.

The hot dog has been linked (no pun intended) to another summer favorite, baseball, since the late 1800s. And on this date (June 11) in 1939, the King and Queen of England got their first taste of a hot dog while visiting the U.S. at a party being held by Franklin D. and Eleanor Roosevelt.